My story....
I have been quietly reading stories posted on this forum off and on for a few years; now it is time to tell my own story. In 5 short weeks I am schedule to have my right hip resurfaced by Dr. Gross and I hope that maybe my story will help someone else in the same way that so many of other stories on this forum have helped, and continue to help, me in my journey.
Today I am a 40 year old man with an athletic history that includes years of basketball, triathlons, adventure races, and orienteering runs along with all the training that goes along with these activities. I have no doubt spent hundreds of hours running up and down basketball courts (concrete and hardwood), bike thousands of miles on roads and single track trails, and hiked/trekked/jogged too many routes and courses to remember. And of course as a kid I played all the typical sports (none of them very well!) from soccer to baseball to backyard football and even some judo. I was never an all-star athlete, but I always loved playing outside with my buddies, which today includes my kids.
Somewhere along the way the geometry of my hip and the activities that I participated in conspired against me and my right hip began to degenerate. I have been told that the growth plates in the head of femur may have “shifted” during my teenage years, probably from one too many basketball charges or judo break-falls. Regardless, at some point my hip stopped rotating concentrically in my pelvis and began to cam and slowly over time crushed away the cartilage in upper portion of the right hip joint. From what I have read this is quite typical, albeit unfortunate, for those of us with osteoarthritis. And now I have significant bone on bone contact in my right hip and extensive osteoarthritis.
Five years ago I first noticed that my hip joint hurt after workouts and this seemed unusual because I knew that it had been years since I had done anything with more dynamic impact than a trail run. So I went to a local orthopedic doc and had it x-rayed. His response was good and bad....he said my hip was degenerating and I would someday need a new one....but fortunately that day was not the day. He gave me some prescription NSAIDs and told me to come back if it got worse. One year later, with about the same amount of pain but now slightly more frequently, I went to see a different orthopedic doc. He gave me basically the same story and said I would know when it got really bad and would be back. So I started my research, figuring I had some time. During the course of the next few years I found this website, read all I could about hip resurfacing and replacements, and talked to anyone I came across that had experience with either.
Now fast forward to the beginning of 2012, four years have passed since my last x-ray, but now things are beginning to get worse. I no longer have mostly good days with a few painful days after a big workout. Now I only have painful days, it is just a matter of how much pain. I the back of my head I can hear the voices of the previous orthopedic docs....”You’ll be back....and you will know when it is time.” It was clear to me that time was getting very near. So I began my final search and doctor interview process, this time all for real.
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina and have access to many highly qualified doctors and knew that I was only a short drive away from two of the country's best resurfacing surgeons. I consider myself exceptionally lucky to have so many great options. So taking the advice from a great friend, who happens to also be a doctor, I took my research knowledge and list of questions and went on a visitation tour. It wasn’t cheap, but I personally visited and talked to three doctors – two that specialize in resurfacing and one that does total hip replacements.
Small aside....In another part of my past life I coached many years of basketball and I recently came across these 5 points for how to pick a high quality teacher/coach. I think these rules probably apply to selecting not only coaches, but anyone important in your life that will have a lasting impact, including a surgeon! See if you agree....1. Avoid someone who reminds you of a courteous waiter 2. Seek someone who scares you a little 3. Seek someone who gives short, clear directions 4. Seek someone who loves teaching fundamentals 5. Other things being equal pick the older person
All three of the doctors I spoke with were outstanding. I am quite certain that any of them would have done a very good job. However, in the end I was extremely impressed by Dr. Gross....his professionalism, his passion, his record, and of course the stories from many of his past patients.
I will be 41 when I have this surgery and yes I am nervous (okay I won’t lie, I am pretty scared), but I am also looking forward to being able play outside again, like mountain biking with my kids, where I don’t spend more than half of the time thinking about how bad my hip hurts and struggling to enjoy the actual activity.
Well that is it for now, sorry for the long post, but I hope somebody finds it helpful. If I think of anything else I will try to add some other comments and I will try to open a new discussion on the flip side to tell about my recovery progress.
-Patrick